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Little Tubu – May 2014

Climate and LandscapeWinter has most certainly arrived at Little Tubu Camp here on Hunda Island. The mornings are cool with guests wrapping themselves up to ward off the early morning chill. Happily the days heat up quite quickly and then the guests are able to peel off their layers. Winter is a truly amazing time of the year for a safari in the Okavango Delta with most days being cloudless and sunny.

WildlifeOur game viewing has been exceptional yet again with guests enjoying some wonderful sightings!

Leopards have entertained guests throughout the month, making several kills and the mother and cub being seen regularly in and around the camp. The young male has also been seen around the airstrip and Kalahari Pans; let’s hope that he is allowed to form his territory in this area so he can remain a permanent fixture for our guests.

We had pilots overnighting in Tent 2 and, while they were enjoying their morning coffee, the young male leopard casually walked past them on the deck and proceeded towards the outside shower where he lay down to enjoy the early rays of the sun. When the nerves of the pilots finally recovered they slowly made their way towards their tent and with their movement the leopard leaped off the front of the deck and continued on his morning patrol.

The male lions have been seen out on game drives every week though they only remain within the area for a day or so before moving on in search of females. Unfortunately we have no resident females that will entice them to make Hunda Island their home at the moment.

There have been several breeding herds of elephant that have taken up residence on the island, entertaining guests for hours with magnificent sightings. One herd in particular has a two-week-old baby which guests have been raving about due to the sheer cuteness of it.

Birds and BirdingWith the Delta waters surrounding the entire front of the camp now, birding has been particularly good. Numerous storks, herons and egrets stalk the floodplains in search of unsuspecting fish which they prey on; this provides hours of entertainment for guests watching them attempting to catch a small morsel. The crimson-breasted shrikes are frequenting the camp more and more which has our avid birding guests almost shrieking with joy.

There is a resident pair of African fish-eagles which have made a nest close to Tent 1 and we are all watching them with anticipation as they raise their young.

Out on a mokoro activity, the guides came across an African jacana nest with four beautiful eggs. Happily the eggs have hatched successfully and are now under the protection of the jacana male – in this species the male takes great responsibility for their care.